What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
- Thread starter dvanburen
- Start date
Nacho8807
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
The only thing I changed on mine for a tonal difference was the pups. Everything else was for playability or intonation. Graphtec nut and bridge, and switched the vintage kluson tuners for the newer grover style (which required some reaming). Also some cosmetic changes like an aged switch tip, a metal jackplate since the plastic one broke, and new knobs. I would love a refret though since I hate the squared "jumbo" frets it came with.
The only thing I changed on mine for a tonal difference was the pups. Everything else was for playability or intonation. Graphtec nut and bridge, and switched the vintage kluson tuners for the newer grover style (which required some reaming). Also some cosmetic changes like an aged switch tip, a metal jackplate since the plastic one broke, and new knobs. I would love a refret though since I hate the squared "jumbo" frets it came with.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
The alu tailpiece makes a noticeable difference, but I found it to be un-LesPaulish. A SG gets too bright. So it stays unused.
Not gonna spend $110 on the Callaham tailpiece (WTF?).
Asian metric TOMs need an urgent replacement with the Gotoh, although the Gotoh kinda sucks, too. I try hard to not get anything sporting a Nashville.
The alu tailpiece makes a noticeable difference, but I found it to be un-LesPaulish. A SG gets too bright. So it stays unused.
Not gonna spend $110 on the Callaham tailpiece (WTF?).
Asian metric TOMs need an urgent replacement with the Gotoh, although the Gotoh kinda sucks, too. I try hard to not get anything sporting a Nashville.
T ROCKER
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Straplocks are an absolute must ; everything else is personal taste. Gluing the headstock back on doesn't count as an upgrade. The strap on my first Les Paul let go as I was leaning down to tweak a pedal, and I caught it because I had a firm grip on the neck, but the strap seemed really sturdy and tight before that. Don't trust the stock strap pins !
Straplocks are an absolute must ; everything else is personal taste. Gluing the headstock back on doesn't count as an upgrade. The strap on my first Les Paul let go as I was leaning down to tweak a pedal, and I caught it because I had a firm grip on the neck, but the strap seemed really sturdy and tight before that. Don't trust the stock strap pins !
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Really, you can get two used Duncan HB's for less than that.
Really, you can get two used Duncan HB's for less than that.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Why??
It's just a guitar mate.
Mine has loads of nicks and dings plus a few small spots on the back of the neck (that are slowly getting bigger!) where the finish is just worn away!
The hardware has aged quite a bit and to be dead honest the guy that put the new nut on was a hack and a half so the new nut, which very functional looks like poop.
I just would have rather spent the cash out right on a 58 then I would spend more money in the long run for a Standard with all the mods and still have not been as happy since a super fat neck Standard just doesn't exist.
Why??
It's just a guitar mate.
Mine has loads of nicks and dings plus a few small spots on the back of the neck (that are slowly getting bigger!) where the finish is just worn away!
The hardware has aged quite a bit and to be dead honest the guy that put the new nut on was a hack and a half so the new nut, which very functional looks like poop.
I just would have rather spent the cash out right on a 58 then I would spend more money in the long run for a Standard with all the mods and still have not been as happy since a super fat neck Standard just doesn't exist.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
On the subject of bridges and tailpieces an aluminum stop bar is a must IMHO and I just don't like Nashville bridges so I'd likely change that too.
As for the Callaham you might like it you might not but the price is more than fair for a hand made stop bar machined from a single billet of stainless steel...at least I think it is!
On the subject of bridges and tailpieces an aluminum stop bar is a must IMHO and I just don't like Nashville bridges so I'd likely change that too.
As for the Callaham you might like it you might not but the price is more than fair for a hand made stop bar machined from a single billet of stainless steel...at least I think it is!
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
I have eleven Les Pauls, and the absolute first thing I do is install a set of Schaller strap locks. The Gibson strap buttons are horrible. All of my Pauls have the Schallers.
Item two: I install a metal jackplate. The plastic ones WILL break, invariably at the most inopportune time. The standard Gibson aftermarket jackplate will not fit the Historic models, so you might want to grab a couple of the Historic ones to keep in your gig kit if you play a Historic.
I have four Historics. The R8 and the two G0s are stock except for the locks. The R9 has an aged Tone-Pros ABR-1 and an aged Gotoh LW tailpiece. I actually think the Gibson Parts are better, so I may be doing some mods in the future. The previous owner also installed Sperzel Locking tuners; I changed them back to the Gibson Historic tuners. I've added an RS wiring kit and '50s wiring. I may change out the Burstbuckers for Antiquitys, Seths or Pearlys at some point.
I have two 1960 Classics, a 1996 and a 1997. One got Antiquitys, one got 50th Anniversary A2 Seths in addition to the locks and plates. And then, I added the LW aluminum Gotoh tailpieces from Stew-Mac. They are also getting RS Kits.
My Custom Shop Elegant got the Gotoh too, as did the two Supremes I have. One Supreme is stock, the other has been upgraded with Seths and an RS Kit.
Finally, I have two of the 2007 GOTW series....Classic Antique Pauls, one in Fireburst, and the other is the infamous Tom Morgan Artist. These are stock, again except for locks and plates.
You can see that I like the LW Gotoh tailpiece. The Historics have an aluminum TP, and the Gotoh is a good value upgrade. Sonically, it makes for a little softer attack and an "airier" tone. It got my Supremes closer to a sweeter tone...a little more 335-ish. They took the Classics and the Elegant closer to the tones I like from my Historics. I've kept the two Classic Antiques stock, partly due to their collectibility and partly because they sound good as is.
Pickups are an individual thing, but I didn't get along with 496/500s or the 490/498s. The '57s in the Elegant are sweet an mellow compared to the Burstbuckers in the Historics, but a little versatility is a good thing.
I'm not totally sold on the '50s wiring, but I believe the RS Kit is a worthwhile upgrade, especially in older, non-Historic Pauls.
I hope his information is helpful.
Bill
I have eleven Les Pauls, and the absolute first thing I do is install a set of Schaller strap locks. The Gibson strap buttons are horrible. All of my Pauls have the Schallers.
Item two: I install a metal jackplate. The plastic ones WILL break, invariably at the most inopportune time. The standard Gibson aftermarket jackplate will not fit the Historic models, so you might want to grab a couple of the Historic ones to keep in your gig kit if you play a Historic.
I have four Historics. The R8 and the two G0s are stock except for the locks. The R9 has an aged Tone-Pros ABR-1 and an aged Gotoh LW tailpiece. I actually think the Gibson Parts are better, so I may be doing some mods in the future. The previous owner also installed Sperzel Locking tuners; I changed them back to the Gibson Historic tuners. I've added an RS wiring kit and '50s wiring. I may change out the Burstbuckers for Antiquitys, Seths or Pearlys at some point.
I have two 1960 Classics, a 1996 and a 1997. One got Antiquitys, one got 50th Anniversary A2 Seths in addition to the locks and plates. And then, I added the LW aluminum Gotoh tailpieces from Stew-Mac. They are also getting RS Kits.
My Custom Shop Elegant got the Gotoh too, as did the two Supremes I have. One Supreme is stock, the other has been upgraded with Seths and an RS Kit.
Finally, I have two of the 2007 GOTW series....Classic Antique Pauls, one in Fireburst, and the other is the infamous Tom Morgan Artist. These are stock, again except for locks and plates.
You can see that I like the LW Gotoh tailpiece. The Historics have an aluminum TP, and the Gotoh is a good value upgrade. Sonically, it makes for a little softer attack and an "airier" tone. It got my Supremes closer to a sweeter tone...a little more 335-ish. They took the Classics and the Elegant closer to the tones I like from my Historics. I've kept the two Classic Antiques stock, partly due to their collectibility and partly because they sound good as is.
Pickups are an individual thing, but I didn't get along with 496/500s or the 490/498s. The '57s in the Elegant are sweet an mellow compared to the Burstbuckers in the Historics, but a little versatility is a good thing.
I'm not totally sold on the '50s wiring, but I believe the RS Kit is a worthwhile upgrade, especially in older, non-Historic Pauls.
I hope his information is helpful.
Bill
dvanburen
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
just got the rs guitar works modern wiring for les paul installed. What a difference1 It sounds like a big boy guitar now. less compressed, big open sound, every note is clearly defined, low end it super tight and punchy and still warm and articulate. I'm really happy with this upgrade
just got the rs guitar works modern wiring for les paul installed. What a difference1 It sounds like a big boy guitar now. less compressed, big open sound, every note is clearly defined, low end it super tight and punchy and still warm and articulate. I'm really happy with this upgrade
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
I do not have one . . . but i want to get an LPJ Gold Top.
The 1st thing to go will be those black, active-looking pick ups. Probably in favour of a Wholle-Lotta-Humbucker set.
And the 2nd thing : replacing the bridge with a Graphtech unit.
I do not have one . . . but i want to get an LPJ Gold Top.
The 1st thing to go will be those black, active-looking pick ups. Probably in favour of a Wholle-Lotta-Humbucker set.
And the 2nd thing : replacing the bridge with a Graphtech unit.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
BIG fan of the Schaller strap locks myself !
BIG fan of the Schaller strap locks myself !
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Bill, do you have a family shot of the LPs?
KeeperOS
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Wow, you know sometimes I wonder whether you were born an old man...
Yep, that about sums it up nicely
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Super Strats are not the answer to all guitar-related questions, nor do they appeal to everyone for a number of reasons. And thanks for the recommendation for one in a thread about LP mods. Excellent fit.
Super Strats are not the answer to all guitar-related questions, nor do they appeal to everyone for a number of reasons. And thanks for the recommendation for one in a thread about LP mods. Excellent fit.
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
I have 3 Les Pauls. I have put different pickups in all of them. My Goldtop has a set of Seth Lovers, my Custom also has Seth Lovers and my Standard has a set of Bare Knuckle Black Dogs. All of them have stock pots and modern wiring but I have changed the caps to PIO.
I put nickel plated tone pro stuff on the gold top, including an aluminum stop. My Custom has an ABR bridge.
I have 3 Les Pauls. I have put different pickups in all of them. My Goldtop has a set of Seth Lovers, my Custom also has Seth Lovers and my Standard has a set of Bare Knuckle Black Dogs. All of them have stock pots and modern wiring but I have changed the caps to PIO.
I put nickel plated tone pro stuff on the gold top, including an aluminum stop. My Custom has an ABR bridge.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
So has this hit all your tone goals with your LP's, or are you wanting to do anything else?
So has this hit all your tone goals with your LP's, or are you wanting to do anything else?
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
I have a couple of pics of some of them, and I'll post them when I get my new computer set up. I am very fortunate to have some beautiful guitars.
Thanks for asking.
Bill
I have a couple of pics of some of them, and I'll post them when I get my new computer set up. I am very fortunate to have some beautiful guitars.
Thanks for asking.
Bill
Coma
Well-known member
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
Pearly Gates in the neck and Invader in the bridge.
Push-pull volume pots on both - coil split on the PG and series/Parallell on the Invader. In retrospect, prolly should've replaced the tone ptos instead, since the push-pulls are 500k, and I actually prefer the sound with standard 300k vol pots anyway.
Reverse wiring on all electronics - lower pots control neck pickup, upper pots control bridge, so I can do the viola thing with the bridge pickup. Also reversed the pickup selector switch wiring, as I kept accidentally hitting the switch when tapping. Seemed like a better solution than duct tape :bigthumb:
Pearly Gates in the neck and Invader in the bridge.
Push-pull volume pots on both - coil split on the PG and series/Parallell on the Invader. In retrospect, prolly should've replaced the tone ptos instead, since the push-pulls are 500k, and I actually prefer the sound with standard 300k vol pots anyway.
Reverse wiring on all electronics - lower pots control neck pickup, upper pots control bridge, so I can do the viola thing with the bridge pickup. Also reversed the pickup selector switch wiring, as I kept accidentally hitting the switch when tapping. Seemed like a better solution than duct tape :bigthumb:
Last edited:
d1dsj
Cornographer
Re: What upgrades are you guys doing on Les pauls?
On mine straps locks were the first thing to do. My standard has had a few pick up swaps but now I've settled on a Ant A8 in the bridge and a floor shop PGn. Excellent pairing, the Ant A8 is the only pick up that I like more than a Brobucker in this guitar, the stock magnet whilst very open and airy sounded quite thin in the higher register whereas the A8 is still vintage sounding but lead breaks just sing now, fuller and thicker sounding. The PGn floor shop sounds completely different to a stock PGn I had in there a few years ago, I don't know why but it does. This guitar started life as a '96 Jimmy Page model with the gold hardware and multi switching options. It's really nothing more than a great standard with a slightly different profile to the neck. It's got an RS wiring kit and aged nickel hardware now and is my main gigging guitar.
My '57 Custom R.I has a Brobucker/ '59n A4 and I don't see that changing. The Brobucker excels in mahogany IMO, I also have one in an SG and they are equally my favourite sounding guitars bar none! The '59 A4 (thanks to Blueman's recommendation
) is also perfect, singing and sweet, balanced without any nasty woolliness and mud.... superb. This guitar also has nice slightly aged BKP gold covers made to vintage specs. Unfortunately BKP won't sell these covers any more and will only fit them to their own pick ups... but they do look great.
Both guitars need a new nut, the original bone nut on the custom was originally cut right on the limit to be great playing, but the D and G slots are a little low now so either it needs pulling and shimming or replacing. The std has the original plastic nut and whilst it's still OK I want to get a bone nut fitted.
On mine straps locks were the first thing to do. My standard has had a few pick up swaps but now I've settled on a Ant A8 in the bridge and a floor shop PGn. Excellent pairing, the Ant A8 is the only pick up that I like more than a Brobucker in this guitar, the stock magnet whilst very open and airy sounded quite thin in the higher register whereas the A8 is still vintage sounding but lead breaks just sing now, fuller and thicker sounding. The PGn floor shop sounds completely different to a stock PGn I had in there a few years ago, I don't know why but it does. This guitar started life as a '96 Jimmy Page model with the gold hardware and multi switching options. It's really nothing more than a great standard with a slightly different profile to the neck. It's got an RS wiring kit and aged nickel hardware now and is my main gigging guitar.
My '57 Custom R.I has a Brobucker/ '59n A4 and I don't see that changing. The Brobucker excels in mahogany IMO, I also have one in an SG and they are equally my favourite sounding guitars bar none! The '59 A4 (thanks to Blueman's recommendation
) is also perfect, singing and sweet, balanced without any nasty woolliness and mud.... superb. This guitar also has nice slightly aged BKP gold covers made to vintage specs. Unfortunately BKP won't sell these covers any more and will only fit them to their own pick ups... but they do look great. Both guitars need a new nut, the original bone nut on the custom was originally cut right on the limit to be great playing, but the D and G slots are a little low now so either it needs pulling and shimming or replacing. The std has the original plastic nut and whilst it's still OK I want to get a bone nut fitted.
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